Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan is set to experience a substantial enhancement in its telecommunications landscape with the upcoming installation of a high-capacity undersea cable as part of the 2Africa Pearls initiative.
This advanced cable system, stretching over 45,000 kilometers, is designed to offer a data transmission capacity of 180 terabits per second, facilitating a major boost in internet connectivity across the country.
Once operational, it is expected to significantly improve the speed and reliability of internet services, particularly in terms of reducing latency and increasing bandwidth for both commercial and consumer users.
The cable's integration into Pakistan’s network is part of an ambitious global project aimed at connecting 33 countries, with 46 landing stations distributed across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
The initiative is set to address critical bandwidth constraints by augmenting Pakistan’s current digital infrastructure, which currently relies on approximately 8 terabytes of bandwidth from existing cables.
The addition of 24 terabytes from the new undersea cable will substantially alleviate congestion, optimizing the internet experience for both routine and high-demand applications, including social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
This improvement comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, where internet users, particularly within the freelancing sector, have been grappling with connectivity issues marked by frequent slowdowns and service interruptions.
These disruptions have been exacerbated by the increased use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which have placed additional strain on the country’s existing network infrastructure.
The new cable is expected to mitigate these challenges, enabling more stable and efficient access to global digital platforms.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is actively engaged in this development, partnering with Transworld Associate (TWA) for the cable's installation.
The 2Africa cable system, supported by major global stakeholders including Meta and Vodafone, is set to go live in Pakistan by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The first phase of the project, which began in December 2024, involves the installation of the Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE) at Hawksbay, Karachi, while the subsequent deep-sea cable laying phase will commence in April 2025.
Ultimately, this ambitious undertaking is expected to strengthen Pakistan's international telecommunications infrastructure, paving the way for enhanced connectivity and higher-quality internet services in the region.